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| G/C JASON SPITZ #72 |
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| 6' 3" • 300 lbs. • Louisville |
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Exp: 3rd NFL Season, 3rd Packers Season
Age: 25
Acquired: Draft 2006 (3b)
Current Status: Active Roster
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- Battled through various injuries to play in 14 games, starting 13 at the right and left guard spots in 2006
- Started at both guard positions at Louisville, but was thought by some scouts to have better long-term pro prospects at center because of size and body frame
- Overcame knee injury as redshirt freshman and started final 38 games of college career, earning postseason honors in final three seasons
- A versatile lineman who can play any of the three interior line positions
- Won a state championship as a competitive weightlifter at The Bolles High School in Jacksonville, Fla
- At The Bolles, football coach was Corky Rodgers, who also coached former Packers' running back and current RB coach Edgar Bennett at Robert E. Lee High, also in Jacksonville, Fla.
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- Named a starter before his first NFL training camp and didn't disappoint, battling through injuries to start a combined 13 games as a rookie at the two guard positions
- Settled into his role at right guard after fellow rookie Daryn Colledge solidified his hold on the left guard spot
- A solid, mobile drive-blocker with a nasty streak that belies his good nature and sense of humor often on display off the field
- Showed his versatility by playing any of the three interior line positions, filling in at center in a pinch on occasion
- Injured his thigh in the season opener and missed two games, but quickly earned his starting job back and displayed his toughness by playing through various other maladies as the season wore on
- Uses his strength well and played fairly consistently as a rookie, making up for any perceived lack of athleticism by playing in a tough, hard-nosed fashion
- A fast learner with veteran technique, will be expected to continue building on the progress made during his first year and help solidify the interior of the Packers' offensive line for years to come
- Second of the Packers' two selections in third round (75th overall), Green Bay utilizing a choice from New England acquired with the Patriots' second-round choice (52) for the Packers' second-round pick (36)
- A four-year starter at Louisville, started the final 38 games of his college career at guard and earned postseason honors his final three seasons
- Because of size and body frame, was thought by some scouts to be a better prospect at center in the NFL, but entered his first pro training camp as the Packers' starter at right guard
- Moved ahead of 2005 fifth-round pick Junius Coston during June organized team activity practices, and won the training camp battle for the starting job
- Did experiment at center during camp prior to junior season at Louisville and played some center during mini-camps and OTAs last offseason
- Coaching staff commented on how quickly he picked things up and how disciplined he was keeping his hands inside defenders to avoid holding calls, an especially rare trait for such a young player
- Effectively uses his hands to jolt defenders with punches, and seen as equally adept at run blocking and pass protection
- A smart lineman with good field awareness, can recognize defenses, react well to stunts and blitzing linebackers, and is capable of calling blocking assignments
- Proved his strength at the NFL scouting combine, bench-pressing 225 pounds 25 times and squatting 585 pounds, reminiscent of his high school days as a competitive weightlifter, when he won a Florida state championship as a senior with a 425 bench press and 650 squat
- Played in 14 games, with 13 starts, and was inactive for two contests
- Despite a painful thigh injury that sidelined him during Weeks 2-3, and a Week 5 throat injury that landed him in the hospital, still played 932 of the Packers' 1,117 offensive snaps (83.4 percent)
- The composed, mature rookie opened the season as the starting left guard, earning the role with good technique, toughness and consistent play, but played most of the campaign at right guard after fellow rookie Colledge reclaimed the LG position
- Started his NFL debut in season opener vs. Chicago (Sept. 10), but sustained a right thigh bruise and missed the next two contests, vs. New Orleans (Sept. 17) and at Detroit (Sept. 24)
- Returned to practice Sept. 27 with a large, custom-made pad on the thigh, and played as a backup at Philadelphia (Oct. 2), receiving most of the second-half snaps at right guard
- Regained his starting job vs. St. Louis (Oct. 8), but began the day with an upset stomach and was taken to the hospital at halftime after vomiting blood
- Diagnosed with a minor tear in his esophagus, returned to full practice during the ensuing bye week
- At Miami (Oct. 22) - with Chad Clifton suddenly inactive (illness) - started at left guard with Colledge moving to left tackle and Tony Moll taking the right guard spot, marking the first time since at least the 1970 merger that the Packers started three rookies on the offensive line, according to Elias Sports Bureau; was part of an offensive line that helped the team gain 155 yards rushing, including 118 from Ahman Green
- On Green's 70-yard touchdown run, made a key block, preventing Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Thomas from making the tackle
- Against Arizona (Oct. 29), helped the offense amass 203 yards on the ground (383 total), including 100-yard performances from both Green (106) and Vernand Morency (101)
- At Buffalo (Nov. 5), blocked for Green's 122 rushing yards and 427 yards of team offense
- At Minnesota (Nov. 12), was part of an offensive line that did not give up a sack, helping Brett Favre throw for a season-high 347 yards
- Against the New York Jets (Dec. 3), aided Green in gaining 102 yards on 14 carries
- In 17-9 triumph vs. Detroit (Dec. 17), played briefly at center when Scott Wells lost his shoe, then on a crucial third-and-9 in the fourth quarter blocked LB Paris Lenon, helping Green gain 10 yards and set up a TD
- A four-year starter at Louisville, started the final 38 games of his college career at guard and earned postseason honors his final three seasons
- Earned first-team All-Big East Conference honors as a senior, starting all 12 games at left guard
- Helped Cardinals rank ninth in nation in total offense (482 yards per game), third in scoring (43.2 points per game), 13th in passing yardage (293.6 ypg) and third in pass-efficiency rating (159.85)
- Collected career-best 81 knockdown blocks, with 13 blocks resulting in TDs
- Allowed only two sacks on the season
- Had season-high nine knockdowns vs. Syracuse (Nov. 26)
- Totaled eight knockdowns as the team rolled up 608 yards of offense vs. Florida Atlantic (Oct. 1)
- Also had eight knockdowns vs. North Carolina (Oct. 8), when he graded out the highest on the season at 86 percent
- As a junior, experimented at center during fall camp, but started all 12 games at right guard and was named second-team All-Conference USA for the second time
- Part of an offense that led Division I-A in total offense (539.0 ypg), scoring (49.75 ppg) and pass-efficiency rating (174.36)
- Totaled 72 knockdown blocks, including season-high 12 vs. East Carolina (Oct. 2) as team amassed 549 yards and he received his season-high and career-high grade of 87 percent
- Had 14 key blocks resulting in TDs, and allowed only 2½ sacks over the season
- Eight knockdowns at Memphis (Nov. 4) contributed to 599-yard day for Cards' offense
- Started all 13 games at right guard and was named second-team All-Conference USA as a sophomore
- Part of an offensive line that allowed only 13 sacks for the season
- Helped Cardinals rank in the Top 10 nationally in rushing with 2,966 yards, a school record
- Cracked starting lineup at right guard in second game as a redshirt freshman, at Duke (Sept. 7)
- Started five straight games before suffering torn medial collateral ligament in left knee
- Missed five games and returned to starting lineup vs. Marshall (Dec. 18) in GMAC Bowl
- Given name Jason Russell Spitz
- Born in Boardman, Ohio
- Single
- Father, Russell, played nose guard at Yale
- At The Bolles High School in Jacksonville, Fla., was a first-team All-First Coast selection as a two-way lineman
- As a senior, finished with 10 sacks and 56 total tackles to earn second-team all-state honors from the Florida Times-Union
- Coach at Bolles was Corky Rodgers, who also coached former Packers' running back and current RB coach Edgar Bennett at Robert E. Lee High in Jacksonville
- Began prep career at Wolfson High School
- Also lettered in track and field as shot put and discus thrower and competed in organized weightlifting, winning a state championship as a senior with a bench press of 425 pounds and a squat of 650 pounds
- Has worked with Boys and Girls Clubs and participated in the Louisville student-athlete volunteer program
- Played games and ate dinner with patients at the local Families of Children with Cancer holiday party
- Rang bells for the Salvation Army during Red Kettle campaign over the holidays
- Served hot lunch to students at De Pere (Wis.) Middle School who donated food as part of the Packers Women's Association food drive
- Took part in Edgar Bennett's Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon to benefit the Angel Fund
- Owns a B.S. degree in marketing
- Likes to read and is interested in finishing a second college major in finance (he's four classes away) and pursuing a master's degree in marketing
- Notes Louisville's victory over Florida State as a freshman in 2002 as the best sporting event he's ever been a part of
- Residence: Jacksonville, Fla.
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| Year |
GP |
GS |
| 2006 Green Bay |
14 |
13 |
Additional statistics: Miscellaneous tackles - 3 in 2006.
NFL debut/first start: vs. Chicago, 9/10/06
CAREER TRANSACTIONS
2006: Selected by Green Bay Packers as second of two third-round selections (75th overall) of '06 NFL Draft, April 29 (pick obtained from New England with second-round choice for Patriots' second-round selection)...Signed first contract, July 26.
CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRATION: After 2009 |
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